By Adeyemi Adeleye
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu was
neither missing nor absent from his duties.
This followed comments credited to Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP)
presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, who questioned the
president’s visibility.
The party, in a statement signed by its Lagos State Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo,
said the President remained fully engaged in the business of governance, both
within and outside the country, urging political actors to focus on issues of
substance rather than optics.
According to him, the president is not missing, neither is he absent from his
constitutional responsibilities.
“He is actively involved in the complex and demanding work of statecraft, which
includes policy coordination, security oversight, diplomatic engagements and
economic reforms, adding that ”Governance is not measured by constant public
appearances or media check-ins. It is assessed by the quality of decisions taken, the
policies implemented and the outcomes delivered in the national interest.”
He also said that Tinubu had continued to discharge his duties with focus and
resolve, guided by the constitutional mandate given to him by Nigerians.
“His schedule and engagements are driven by national priorities, not by the need to
satisfy political commentary,” he said.
Oladejo added that the Tinubu administration had remained active on several
fronts, including economic reforms, security coordination and international
diplomacy and noted that these efforts were aimed at repositioning Nigeria for
sustainable growth and global relevance.
He advised political leaders to engage constructively by offering ideas and
alternatives that would contribute to national development, rather than raising
questions that could create unnecessary public anxiety.
Peter Obi, a former Anambra governor had questioned the whereabouts of Tinubu
amid what he described as deepening economic hardship, insecurity and leadership
silence.
In a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, Obi said his concern
was driven by the scale of challenges confronting the country and the perceived
absence of direct presidential engagement at a critical time.
He alleged that President Tinubu spent 196 days outside the country in 2025,
adding that this exceeded the time he spent within Nigeria during the same period.
He also claimed that Nigerians had not heard directly from the President since
December 2025. Recall that Tinubu on Dec. 28 departed Lagos for Europe to
continue his end-of-year break and in preparation for an official visit to Abu Dhabi
in the United Arab Emirates.
The president was invited by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of
the UAE, to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
(ADSW 2026).
Tinubu on Sunday arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to attend the 2026
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week which began on Monday.
